Record Reviews

AZYMUTH ~ DEMOS (1973-75) VOLUMES 1 & 2 FAR OUT 210 (Barcode: 827565062621) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1975 Released: 2019 This is an archival album, which presents previously unreleased early recordings by the great Brazilian ensemble AzymuthFind albums by this artist, which precede their official eponymous debut album released in 1975. At that stage the ensemble was a quartet comprising of keyboardist Jose Roberto BertramiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jose Alexandre MalheirosFind albums by this artist, drummer Ivan ContiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Ariovaldo ContesiniFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen original compositions, mostly co-composed by Bertrami, Malheiros and Conti, and some by Bertrami. Azymuth played a wonderful amalgam of Jazz / Funk / Samba, which proved to be extremely successful in the 1980s, when they released their albums on the US label MilestoneFind albums on this label Records, which also signed other Brazilian Jazz artist, like the couple of Airto MoreiraFind albums by this artist and Flora PurimFind albums by this artist. Despite the fact than their music was popular, they offered a highly aesthetic approach to their Art and never compromised their musical principles, which resulted in a series of truly excellent albums. They also released individual solo albums over time. Bertrami sadly departed in 2012. Although the music on this album is somewhat raw, recorded in a straightforward and simplistic studio conditions, it offers the true spirit of Azymuth’s music, which combines brilliant melodic compositions and Brazilian rhythmic magic, superbly performed by the group members. Bertrami was a sublime keyboardist and managed to squeeze absolutely everything possible form his keyboards, which considering the time-frame, sound absolutely magnificent. The “simplicity” and straightforwardness of the music on this CD is absolutely captivating and touches on the hidden nostalgic strings, which again and again remind us that “they don’t make music like this anymore”, which in this case is even more evident than usual. Overall, this is a marvelous album, full of brilliant music and superb performances, with an emphasis of early synthesizer and electric keyboards, which are omnipresent herein and provide a great glimpse of the music made in the early to mid-1970s, far from where “the things were happening” and yet every bit as exciting and even perhaps more exciting than most. This is a brilliant historic document of Brazilian / South American music and thanks to Far OutFind albums on this label Recordings, we have an opportunity to revisit this music again fifty years later.

Updated: 22/03/2023Posted: 22/03/2023

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CROSBY, STILLS & NASH ~ DEMOS RHINO 79854 (Barcode: 081227986438) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1971 Released: 2009 My initial expectations from this album were somewhat mixed. As much as I love the music Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist made over the years this seemed as yet another attempt to capitalize on some irrelevant material by the music magnates. Boy was I wrong! This is truly magnificent stuff, which made me literally shed a tear while listening. These demo versions of songs that we all are familiar with in their fully developed versions recorded later by the group, are wonderful examples of the talent and imagination these three musicians possessed. Most of the album is just the songwriter singing solo with an acoustic guitar accompaniment and it´s truly amazing how much music can be delivered under such minimalistic circumstances. Their voices in the full magnificence of their youth, full of life, joy and even optimism (in spite of the serious and often melancholic subject matter) are heartbreaking and sadly remind me about time passing by way to quickly and all of us getting mercilessly old. But never mind my personal nostalgic perspective; this is magnificent music created in unusual, inspired times, which stays relevant in full, a musical naked truth! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 21/01/2019Posted:

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